School bond is no shoo-in, but a campaign is

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- A core group of members of a Newport-Mesa Unified School

District committee that recently disbanded have joined forces again in

anticipation of an upcoming bond measure.

Although the members are hesitant to discuss it prior to a school board

vote, a campaign committee has been formed to support the passage of a

school bond.

Mark Schultheis, co-chair and spokesperson of the former facilities

committee, will now assume the same role, as will three others, for the

new campaign committee.

“There is an effort being made to do whatever we can to advocate the

passage of a bond measure by those of us who feel it’s the right thing to

do,” Schultheis said. “If you look at the timing of things, I think it’s

a good idea to prepare.”

If the school board does put a bond measure on the ballot, the new

committee will be prepared to campaign for it at full speed.

“Once they approve it, the groundwork will be laid and we won’t lose any

time,” said Jill Money, Harbor Council PTA president.

Money will act as the co-chair in charge of organizing volunteers. Hank

Panian will act as a third co-chair in charge of communicating with

senior citizens, and Arlene Schafer will act as a fourth co-chair,

although her specific duties have yet to be determined.

So far, the group has met twice in an effort to become organized, but

will not be visible to the public unless the board approves the bond

measure, Schultheis said.

The campaign committee, which has about 15 supporters so far, is

preparing to raise money and collect endorsements as well as plotting a

strategic plan and creating a volunteer base.

“No one will do anything until the vote on March 7. So March 8, we’ll be

ready to start,” Money said. “We’ll have lost no time.”